TGCF Ch 28 Part 1 – Now the Culprit Has Been Caught, It’s Time to Bring Xia Chun Home (I)

Following Zhang Qiming’s arrest, the police also went after Gao Yongfeng, who managed to escape. The case brought a major shake-up within Huagang Police Station. The case against Huang Xiaojuan, which had previously been hastily dismissed, was reopened for investigation. Huang Xiaojuan had barely been released for a few days when she was once again apprehended, this time with the police arriving dramatically with blaring sirens. She was under suspicion of being an accomplice in Zhang Qiming’s murder of Xia Chun, under the motive of insurance fraud.

Xia Mian stayed an extra day to assist with the investigation. At the end of her statement, Xia Mian couldn’t help but ask, “If the allegations are true, will Zhang Qiming be sentenced to death?”

The female officer who took her statement sighed, “If it’s true, a death sentence is unavoidable. You have my condolences.”

When Xia Mian left the police station, she saw Ning Shaobai waiting at the entrance, holding Xiao Feng’s hand, with Chenchen by their side. Today, Chenchen was wearing a pair of short overalls and a loosely perched white baseball cap. “Xiao Feng, have some chocolate,” Chenchen said, adjusting his slightly obstructive hat and unwrapping the foil to feed Xiao Feng a piece, quietly swallowing his own saliva with some reluctance.

He only got one piece of chocolate a day and usually never shared it with anyone. However, his mother said that Xiao Feng had recently gone through something very frightening, so he wanted to comfort him. Sharing his snack was the best comfort Chenchen could think of; whenever he was unhappy, a piece of chocolate would always make things better.

Normally, Xiao Feng would have noticed Chenchen’s feelings and wouldn’t have taken the chocolate, but today he was absent-minded. After taking the chocolate, he continued to gaze towards the police station entrance.

This was a lingering effect of the fire. Xiao Feng, who had just begun to regain his cheerfulness, was traumatized again. Once again, he clung tightly to Xia Mian and suffered from nightmares, frequently calling out “Auntie, Auntie” while asleep.

Xia Mian’s heart ached every time he called out, but she couldn’t take him with her when providing statements. Fortunately, there was Ning Shaobai. Maybe it was because Ning Shaobai had saved them that day, he was the only person Xiao Feng felt safe around at this moment, apart from Xia Mian.

Seeing Xia Mian, Xiao Feng’s eyes lit up, and he ran over, “Auntie!”

Xia Mian picked him up and silently kissed his little face. Ning Shaobai, rarely seeing her so downcast, asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, we can go home tomorrow,” Xia Mian said, not feeling very enthusiastic. Maybe it was because her memories were merging more seamlessly, but whenever she heard about Xia Chun, the other party’s voice and appearance were vivid and clear. She was a kind-hearted and lovely girl, radiating with energy, and had always been very caring and loving to her younger sister. Xia Chun should have a bright future, but her life was unjustly taken by a scumbag, leaving Xiao Feng alone to face those terrible people.

Xia Mian’s gaze fell on Xiao Feng. Although the boy never mentioned missing his mother, how could he not? Whenever she mentioned something about Xia Chun, he always listened very intently. Even if he had long forgotten what his mother looked like, he instinctively sought out anything about her. Whenever he saw Li Xinmei holding Zhuangzhuang or Chenchen acting spoiled towards Ning Shaoyun, he showed an envious expression.

Xia Mian patted the child’s head, feeling a tightness in her chest that made her want to cry.

Suddenly, she felt a movement above her head. A cool breeze blew through, and her overheated head felt much more comfortable.

However…

Xia Mian glared at Ning Shaobai angrily, “What are you doing?!”

Ning Shaobai shook the tuft of fake hair in his hand, “Aren’t you hot? Be careful you don’t get a heat rash on your head.”

Chenchen looked up and said, “Auntie Xia Mian, your wig comes off if you pull it.”

“Don’t say that!!” Xia Mian had just lowered her head to look at the boy when she felt something fall off her head, and her scalp instantly felt cool and comfortable.

Xia Mian’s expression instantly changed. She glared at Ning Shaobai, who also looked surprised.

He raised his arm to show Xia Mian the hair caught in his watch strap, claiming innocence, “I didn’t mean to.”

Xia Mian clenched her fists. Sensing danger, Ning Shaobai quickly adjusted the wig and put it back on her head, asking, “Your forehead is sweaty. Aren’t you hot? Be careful of heatstroke.”

Xia Mian yanked the wig off, glaring at him angrily. She had hastily bought this wig yesterday, and it was completely unbreathable. Initially, it wasn’t too bad, but after feeling some air, putting it back on was unbearably uncomfortable.

Ning Shaobai leisurely bent down and took the white baseball cap off Chenchen’s head, placing it on Xia Mian’s. “I told you, wearing a hat is more comfortable.”

“You seem to know a lot about this. Have a lot of experience?” Xia Mian, annoyed, threw the wig at him. If she were taller, she would have put it on his head instead.

Ning Shaobai felt relief as he saw her no longer appearing listless. He stopped teasing her and got to the point, “What are your plans? Still going to Yan City?”

Xiao Feng immediately looked at Xia Mian, who patted his head comfortingly and replied with a firm tone, “Of course.” She still didn’t plan to return to Mingxi County. It was too small, and Ming City wasn’t much better. Moreover, although Zhang Qiming was gone, this town was where Xia Chun had died. Besides, Xiao Feng’s talent couldn’t be wasted. She wanted to do everything she could to help him shine in this world.

Chenchen was instantly delighted, “Little brother, you’re coming with us to Yan City?”

Xiao Feng smiled, nodding happily, his soft hair brushing against Xia Mian’s cheek.

Xia Mian smiled and patted his back.

“But we need to go back to our hometown first,” she told Ning Shaobai. “Some follow-up matters will need elders to handle.”

One issue was the unit in the Huagang Family Compound. The factory, upon learning of the situation, agreed to transfer the ownership to Xiao Feng once Zhang Qiming’s case was finalized. However, Xia Mian planned to sell it as soon as they got it. It was because of that house that Zhang Qiming murdered Xia Chun. Even though it was bought with Xia Chun’s insurance money, those two scumbags had been living in it, and she didn’t like it at all. Still, she was technically a minor, so these matters needed to be handled by the elders.

Then there was the issue with the Zhang family. Xia Mian planned to move Xia Chun’s grave back to Mingxi County, not out of superstition, but because she was thoroughly disgusted by everything related to Zhang Qiming. Besides, she didn’t want Xiao Feng to return there every time he wanted to visit his mother’s grave.

“School starts in half a month. Can everything be settled by then?” Ning Shaobai asked. “How are your grades? What kind of high school are you planning to attend?”

“I’m planning to take a half-year break from school,” Xia Mian said. “First, handling things here will take at least half a month, and then we’ll need to buy a house and settle in Yan City. I plan to talk to Sister Ning later; I might need her help.”

“Just talk to me directly,” Ning Shaobai said.

Xia Mian looked puzzled.

“I’m returning to Yan City too,” Ning Shaobai explained.

“So sudden?”

“We’ve cleared up the situation with Chenchen.”

Ning Shaobai didn’t elaborate, but Xia Mian understood—he must be going back to deal with his stepmother. Thanks to her warning, Chenchen hadn’t been kidnapped or injured, and with such clear evidence, the truth must have been easily uncovered. The villains would be punished early, and the fate of Chenchen’s family would also change.

Ning Shaobai handed her a new phone. The one he had previously lent to her was destroyed in the fire. “Take this, stay in touch, and if you can leave within a month, we’ll go together.”

It was a good idea. Ning Shaobai would be driving to Yan City, which was much more convenient than taking the slow train. Xia Mian accepted without hesitation, but in return, she glanced at Chenchen and said to Ning Shaobai, “Be cautious of his grandfather. I can’t remember where I heard it, but Huo Pengyi’s personal secretary is actually his illegitimate son.”

“And regarding the project in the north of the city, watch out for that illegitimate son.”

The book mentioned that Chenchen was abandoned by his family because Huo Xuewen was overwhelmed by the trouble with this particular project, almost ending up in prison, which left him no time or energy to protect his son. As Chenchen’s situation worsened, Ning Shaoyun resented him even more, and their relationship reached the point of no return.

Ning Shaobai’s face grew serious, but he didn’t ask any questions, only saying, “Got it, thanks.”

Xia Mian silently breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t want to make up excuses, so it was good that Ning Shaobai didn’t ask for details.

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Translator’s note:

The Healer Demands Payment will soon enter hiatus in 2-3 months, meaning I will continue to translate the title as new raws come out, but it will no longer have fixed, twice-per-week releases, nor will it have extra/sponsored releases or advanced chapters. A few weeks after that, Daughter of the Dao and Devil Venerable will also enter hiatus.

Currently, I am in need of two replacement novels, and while I am about to lock in one title, I still haven’t found a suitable title for the second one… if you have a novel you want me to translate, give suggestions in the comments! Note that I am only translating female-oriented Chinese novels (no BL, no GL, no male protagonist). I am also unable to translate novels with e-sport or online game settings (too much slang T_T) and I personally don’t want to translate novels with tragedy/sad endings (I’m okay reading one, but translating a novel means I will have to live with the story and characters for 2-3 years… so I want them to have a happy end.)

Waiting for your suggestion 😉

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